PHYSICIAN OFFICE LAB
Changing POL Dynamics POLs are undergoing integration into IDNs IDN ownership of physician practices is a long-standing trend with over 38% of all physicians employed by hos-
pitals in 2016. In some areas of the country the number is closer to 50%, with younger physician employment by hospitals at over 65%.
Purchase of physician practices by hospitals, and more recently private equity firms, has created new pressures on the physician office lab and increased concerns about consistency of lab results from setting to setting. There were 169,000 labs in 2000, and by 2017 the number has grown to nearly 260,000. As the number of labs has increased over time and the number of POLs owned by IDNs have increased, the need for result standardization has become more obvious and important. While PAMA 6
December 2020
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www.repertoiremag.com
By Jim Poggi
is likely to reduce the number of labs to some degree, standardization of lab results between care settings is a major concern, particularly among larger IDNs. IDNs have taken various approaches to assure quality of care and lab result consistency. Some IDNs have reduced the types of tests
